The Denver Nuggets had a hole in the backcourt this offseason, but they've slowly added backcourt depth by signing DeMar DeRozan. And now they're going to see if Lonnie Walker IV fits into their 2026-27 plans for the 15th and final roster spot for the last of their guard depth. The 27-year-old veteran is taking a chance on himself, and if he plays well enough this preseason, the Nuggets could take a chance on Walker.
Per Keith Smith of Spotrac, a league source told him that the Nuggets have officially signed Walker to a non-guaranteed training camp deal. Sure enough, Walker is listed as a Nugget for on the NBA's website. For now. The training camp deal just means that Walker is literally trying out for the team. He's truly betting on himself.
Lonnie Walker has officially signed his contract with the Denver Nuggets. It's a non-guaranteed camp deal for Walker, a league source told @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 10, 2026
Walker is trying to make his NBA comeback with the Nuggets
Walker, the 18th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, is attempting to make his NBA comeback with the Nuggets. He last played 20 games in 2024-25 for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 23.9 minutes and scoring 12.4 points per game. But he found himself out of the league for 2025-26. However, it wasn't all bad for Walker. Walker played the season in the EuroLeague for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he was still under contract for another year.
Apparently, the chance at another NBA shot was worth the gamble for Walker. And he found the right team to try his comeback with. The Nuggets need an explosive, athletic guard who can use his fast first step to get downhill and attack the rim.
And working off the ball, Walker is an excellent cutter and slasher who could be an excellent fit when he's in the lineup alongside Nikola Jokic. And Walker would give the Nuggets' offense another transition threat when they try to get out on the fast break.
The Nuggets have room for one more. Sort of
The Nuggets do have space for one more standard contract on the roster. But they're already $3.15 million over the NBA's second apron luxury tax penalty threshold, and adding Walker on the league minimum contract would put them another $2.44 million further past that. Not to mention, it would add approximately $16.5 million in taxes to the Nuggets' already sky-high $75 million tax bill.
That's why the prevailing thought was that the Nuggets would keep the 15th roster spot open until they were in a position to fill it out without going over the second apron line. But maybe not? Maybe the Nuggets will add Walker if he shows in training camp that he's got what they want. Walker took a gamble on himself, and the Nuggets could take a gamble on Walker, too.
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